Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence received from Members.

There were no substitute Members appointed.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members in respect of business to be transacted on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest made by Members.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 15 November 2017 (attached), 13 December 2017 and 25 April 2018 (to follow).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2017 and 13 December 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Minutes of the meetings held on 25 April 2018 were deferred.

Please note that in accordance with the agreed Protocol for Public Speaking at Overview and Scrutiny, the right to speak only applies to agenda item 11.

The right of the public to speak does not apply to the following agenda items: Apologies, Appointment of Substitute Members, Declarations of Interest, Minutes, the Forward Plan, the Scrutiny Work Programme, any agenda item that is not accompanied by a written report and items that are exempt business.

Members of the public wishing to speak must register to do so by no later than 2.00 pm on the second working day before the meeting.

The Democratic Services Manager advised that no members of the public had registered to speak on items on the agenda to which the public speaking protocol applied.

The following decisions were taken by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 14 May 2018 in respect of recommendations from the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee:

·         Dover District Regeneration Update

The Democratic Services Manager advised Members of Cabinet’s decision made on 14 May 2018 in respect of the recommendations from the Committee with regard to Dover District Regeneration Update. Members who were present at that meeting advised that a discussion did not take place concerning the recommendation. Members were unsatisfied with the decision and requested that answers to the questions be provided.

RESOLVED:        That the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee express its concern to Cabinet over the lack of discussion it had at its meeting on 14 May 2018 in respect of the Committees recommendations on Dover District Regeneration Update and Cabinet be requested to provide answers to the specific questions it raised in the original recommendations.

There were no items for consideration.

(a)    Items placed on the agenda by a Member of the Committee or any individual Non-Executive Member

       Any individual Councillor may request that a matter is placed on the agenda of one of the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

       There are no items for consideration.

(b)    Call-In

       Executive Decisions may be called-in by the Chairman or Spokesperson of the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee or any three non-executive members. Call-Ins are heard by the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee unless it decides to refer the matter to the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee.

       There are no items for consideration.

(c)    Public Petitions

       There are no items for consideration.     

There were no items for consideration.

The Democratic Services Manager presented the Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions to the Committee for its consideration.

RESOLVED:   That the Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions be noted.

It is intended that the Committee monitor and prioritise its rolling work programme.

The Democratic Services Manager presented the Scrutiny Work Programme to the Committee for its consideration.

RESOLVED:  That the Work Programme be noted.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive and Policy and Projects Manager presented the revised Dover District Council Local Development Scheme (LDS) to the Committee which had been approved by Cabinet at its meeting on 14 May 2018.

The LDS set out the timetable for the production of key planning documents that would form part of the District’s Local Plan. The LDS superseded the previous LDS published on 4 September 2017 and was updated to take into account changes to the preparation, consultation and adoption of: the District Local Plan and work on the Dover Waterfront; Statement of Community Involvement; and a number of Conservation Area Character Appraisals.

A series of Local Plan workshops were due to take place in the Summer/Autumn 2018 with statutory agencies, Town/Parish Councils and stakeholders in order to assist officers with the preparation of the Draft Local Plan. Consultation on the draft Local Plan was due to commence in July/August 2019. Members were invited to provide officers with their suggestions for stakeholders to consult with and to provide suggestions for deposit points for hard copies of the consultation for public inspection.

An update to the report was provided outlining the current position of the studies that would be used to compile the Evidence Base for the Local Plan. Members considered the North Deal Transport and Access Study and raised their concerns surrounding the current position of infrastructure in the area which included: sewerage and drainage; power supply provision and broadband. Members were of the opinion that the current infrastructure was not sustainable for any future developments. Members discussed the previous flooding at Albert Road and the residents’ concerns for further flooding. Whilst officers acknowledged the infrastructure pressures, these were pressures across all of Kent and not unique to the Dover District and developers had the right to connect to the existing drainage system due to legislation.

RESOLVED:     (a)       That Southern Water be invited to a meeting of the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee to discuss Albert Road, Deal and the long term infrastructure needs.

                          (b)       That Dover District Council Officers also be invited.